Medicine

The definition of medicine is "the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease (in technical use often taken to exclude surgery)." There are many conditions that afflict the dear people of Aetheral-- anything from concussions to insanity. Here, we aim to relieve and even cure these conditions based on what we know. Herbs, medications, treatments, and potions, are all in our doctors' toolbelt, and here is where we keep their recipes and uses.

Conditions & Treatments (WIP)
Conditions describe a state of being that one no longer wishes to be in, things such as being bit by a snake, headaches, or even missing limbs. This section describes the best way to treat such conditions (assuming they are treatable) to the best of our ability to prevent death and further dismemberment!

Concussion
Description:

Concussions happen when someone hits their head, usually on a hard surface like stone. Concussions can also occur when one falls too fast then suddenly stops, for the brain will shake about their skull, damaging it.

Concussions can range from a simple headache to bleeding from the brain. One is an annoyance, the other, is fatal.

Mild
 Description: 

A mild concussion is typically just a headache from hitting your head a little too hard or as a result of a fall.

 Contraction: 

Hitting your head or falling.

 Symptoms: 


 * Mild persistent headache.
 * Dizziness.
 * Dilated pupils, usually one will be dilated more than the other if the injury occured on one side of the head.

 Fatality: 

It is very rare that this condition is fatal, however, it can develop into a more Moderate or Severe concussion if exacerbated.

 Treatment: 

It is recommended to treat the pain of the headache and to remove strain on the body and mind. Avoid strenuous activities like lifting heavy objects or running, as well as studying or too intensive reading.

Moderate
 Description: 

A moderate concussion is brought about the same way as a mild one, though it can also be as a result from fighting, hitting your head on something like tile or a kitchen counter, or falling from a short distance. Though, with increased rattling and increased damage, brings more severe symptoms, from a blistering headache to, more rarely, personality changes.

Mild neck injuries and neck pain are also common with this condition.

 Contraction: 

Severe head injuries brought on from hitting your head or falling.

 Symptoms: 


 * Blistering, persistent headache.
 * Tenderness near the base of the head where it meets the neck.
 * Dilated pupils.
 * Moderate to severe dizziness.
 * Near constant irregular eye movement.
 * Trouble concentrating.
 * Slurred speech.
 * Mild changes in mood, such as increased anxiety or anger.
 * Change in taste or smell.

 Fatality: 

If brain swelling is not reduced, this condition can cause brain damage and even death.

The swelling and symptoms will continue to worsen until the pressure inside the skull is too much for the brain.

 Treatment: 

Manage the swelling and pain over the course of a couple weeks. If symptoms continue, even with treatment, begin a surgery to forcibly remove the pressure from the skull, also known as trepanation.

Severe
 Description: 

Similarly, this condition is brought about by head/brain trauma, but to the extreme. Expect bleeding from the ears, extreme dizziness and horrible headaches, as well as a common change in personality brought on by brain damage.

Neck pain and trauma are likely with this condition.

 Contraction: 

Severe head trauma that can be brought on from falling from a high place and hitting your head, getting hit in the head during a fight, or in rare occasions, simply from falling.

 Symptoms: 


 * Blistering, persistent headache.
 * Tenderness near the base of the head where it meets the neck or trauma to the neck.
 * Bleeding from the ears.
 * Dilated pupils.
 * Moderate to severe dizziness.
 * Near constant irregular eye movement.
 * Trouble concentrating.
 * Slurred speech.
 * Change in taste or smell.
 * Severe changes in mood, such as increased anxiety or anger.
 * Change in personality.

 Fatality: 

If the bleeding of the brain goes untreated, this condition is fatal.

 Treatment: 

Treat swelling and pain, open the skull to remove pressure and blood.

Pray.

Trepanation (Concussion Cont.)
 Description 

Trepanation Is  the process of making a hole through the skull to the surface of the brain to treat a range of medical conditions relating to the brain. It is believed to relieve pressure that builds up within the skull that comes as a result of brain trauma and illness.

 How to Administer: 

The trepanation tool is a simple hand drill made to remove a coin sized bit of skull, although the drill bits can vary in size depending on the severity of the condition.

To trepan, simply shave the head, either in the front, middle, or back part of the skull (varying for each condition of course), mark where the hole is to be placed, put the patient to sleep, prop them up within their chair, and slowly drill, checking your hole every few seconds to check its depth.

 Uses: 

Drilling the Front of the Skull:


 * Frequent headaches
 * Behavior problems from other conditions
 * To remove ghosts and spirits from the head

Drilling the Middle of the Skull:


 * To relieve pressure in the skull from injury

Drilling the Back of the Skull:


 * To release blood and other liquid buildup within the skull

 Warnings/Side Effect 

Exposes the brain, revealing a soft spot in the skull that may become injured in the future.

If done incorrectly, a doctor may drill too far into the patient’s brain.

Infections as a Condition
Infections occur when something enters the body when it simply should not, excluding foreign objects, and poisoning. While that definition is vague, it is that way on purpose. If you are looking for specific diseases, then it is recommended you take a gander at other chapters. This is just what these infections commonly incur.

There are four types of infection:

 Common 

Common infections are those that enter the body through the mouth, eyes, nose, and other orifices, but are caused by sickness within the air or water rather than a fungus or parasite. Common infections include things like the flu, pneumonia, infections within the ear, and stomach diseases.

 Blood 

Infections most often include diseases, but can also include secondary effects that occur after injury. These are known as “blood” infections, and are one of the most deadly types. The most severe type of blood infection is known as sepsis.

Fungal

Fungal infections are just that — they occur when a fungus or mold enters the host and then settles until it is cleared. Common types of fungal infections are ringworm, thrush settling, infections under the nail or within other hollow spaces such as the lungs, mouth, stomach, or bladder. The rarer types of fungal infections can even begin eating away at the organs, such as heart, eyes, or the brain, or even the bones.

Parasitic

This is not to be confused with the “hosting” of parasites, which is another condition entirely. This is in reference to the disease that parasites often carry with them, diseases such as malaria, giardia, and sleeping sickness. Most of the diseases brought on by the parasite are named after the parasite, bringing about a certain level of confusion, but, this is cleared up when we separate them further. The hosting of parasites is simply having the parasite within a patient, and then witnessing the symptoms of the parasite consuming or living off of the host. Parasitic infection is when the parasite brings other issues, such as fever, vomiting, boils, and headache. Sometimes, living with the parasite is, relatively speaking, harmless to the host, but most often, the diseases they bring can become fatal.

Common Infections
Common infections bring about a lieu of symptoms, mainly because most diseases fall under this category. Common sicknesses are colds, bronchitis, or stomach upset. Rare yet deadly sicknesses are often considered plagues.

Common Symptoms:


 * Cough
 * Sore throat
 * Headache/Congestion
 * Drainage from the nose, ears, eyes, mouth
 * Rash
 * Vomiting
 * Diarrhea
 * Fatigue
 * Loss of appetite, smell, or taste
 * Muscle ache

Uncommon Symptoms:


 * Continuous vomiting, that is, without breaks (a break is defined as a period that lasts from 5 minutes to two hours)
 * Severe Headache, typically from dehydration
 * Difficulty breathing
 * Expelling blood
 * Muscle weakness or spasm
 * Boils or pockmarks
 * Fever or chills
 * Swollen lymph nodes
 * General swelling

Rare/Deadly Symptoms:


 * Severe symptoms from Common or Uncommon lists
 * Bleeding
 * Delirium
 * Anxiety/Sense of impending doom
 * Swelling of the organs — brain, heart, liver.
 * Weakness within the bones
 * Internal bleeding
 * Degradation of muscle and fat
 * Starvation
 * Permanent tissue damage
 * Stroke
 * Embolism/Aneurysm
 * Death

Blood Infections
Blood infections are what happens when a common infection reaches a patience’s bloodstream, or when blood becomes exposed to the elements. Things like cuts and burns can easily become infected, though, smaller, less serious blood infections, are said to cause lumps under the skin.

The best way to prevent these types of infections is treating the wound — cleaning out any foreign objects, bits of wood, metal, dirt, etc. to help heal the wound faster, covering the wound in bandage and keeping it hydrated. A honey-based salve is always good for these things.

If the wound goes septic or begins to develop gangrene, the best approach is to treat  low blood pressure, treat the inflammation, and remove the effected limb if possible.

[Typically, IC, if a wound isn’t treated within two hours, it’s very possible that it will develop an infection. Roll a d100. If it is over 33, then the wound will become  infected. If this wound is not treated within a day, then roll another d100. If it is over 33, then the wound will move onto an “uncommon infection.” The player must consent to develop gangrene, and must consent to moving onto the severe stage. If these uncommon symptoms are not treated within a day, then another d100 must be rolled. If it’s over 33, then sepsis will develop. If the roll is higher than 80, then gangrene will develop. If the severe symptoms are not treated with another, roll another d100. If it is over 50, the player will die from their infection, It takes about four-five days to die from infection.]

Common Symptoms:


 * Redness around the wound
 * Tenderness and heat around the wound
 * The wound is drying out
 * The wound will not heal
 * The wound is leaking foul-smelling or cloudy pus

Uncommon Symptoms:


 * Fever
 * Flushing, Chills, or Shivering
 * The wound remains open, and won’t heal or scab over, common with burns
 * Rash
 * Spreading redness or dry-rash around the wound
 * Gangrene in the effected limb may occur

Rare/Deadly Symptoms/Symptoms of Sepsis:


 * High fever
 * Red streaks from wound to the heart (sign of inflamed veins)
 * Dangerously low blood pressure
 * Dizziness and delirium
 * Low body temperature or shivering
 * Shortness of breath
 * Organ dysfunction (shows best within the bladder or bowels)
 * Skin discoloration/pallor
 * Sleepiness

Fungal Infections
Fungal infections occur when mold, spores, or any other manner of fungus enters the body and then is able to survive within the host. Common fungal infections are not ever deadly, just uncomfortable, however, there are fungus in the world that can eat away at soft tissue and bone marrow, and, if the fungus manages to enter the patient’s bloodstream, the condition may worsen to the point of fatality.

Typically, common infections will clear themselves out in a matter of weeks or days. They are easy to contract (from things such as swamp foot or walking through a cloud of spores), but easy to remove. Typically, keep the body and skin hydrated, and clean the nails with tools. Apply a garlic-based salve to the effected area until it clears. Apple cider vinegar soaks also work well. Most uncommon and severe fungi cannot be removed, so treatment often consists of managing symptoms.

[In character, uncommon and deadly fungal infections must DM’d, and cannot be “given” to a player. However, common fungal infections do not need to be DM’d. Treatment can be given, then the doctor will roll a d15 to see how many days the treatment removes from the course of the infection. For example, if the infection would normally last 13 days (determined by the player’s own d15 roll upon contracting the infection), and the doctor rolls a 5, then the infection would last 8 days. Multiple treatments within a 48 hour period will not give the doctor another roll for treatment.]

Some severe fungal infections are permanent, but not deadly.

Common Symptoms:


 * Blackened nails on the feet or hands
 * Scaly or severely dry skin
 * Yellow or discolored portion of skin
 * Rash
 * White bumps within the mouth and throat
 * Discolored discharge from the eyes, ears, mouth, or nose
 * Headache

Uncommon Symptoms:


 * Fever or flushing
 * Painful, severe rash
 * Blisters or “fragile skin”
 * Discoloration in the skin
 * Hemophilia/difficulty developing blood clots
 * Weakness
 * Tiredness/Dizziness
 * Nausea & Vomiting
 * Sweating

Rare/Deadly Symptoms:


 * Muscle spasms or seizure
 * Paralysis or stroke
 * Severe blisters
 * Bleeding
 * Severe Weakness & Exhaustion
 * Blindness/Loss of vision
 * Difficulty breathing
 * Heart palpitations
 * Organ dysfunction or even failure
 * Permanent organ damage
 * Weakness within the bones
 * Death

Fungal Pneumonia and Meningitis may develop.

Parasitic Infections
Parasitic Infections are similar to fungal infections in how they develop and their symptoms. One of the most depressing similarities is that parasitic infections are notoriously difficult to treat and cure. Either they pass or they rest within the patient for the rest of their lives. Typically, removing the parasite offers some aid. For digestive parasites, it’s recommended that an arsenic tincture be administered every three days until the parasites pass. For small external parasites, there are methods, such as pulling ticks with tweezers, or cutting open the skin and slowly removing the entirety of the worms. Worms that are common in animals, such as heartworms, may oftentimes simply die within a person, who, due to the chemicals within their blood, are an unfit host. Some surgeries are needed to remove these dead worms from veins and tissue.

Parasites can be contracted many ways, but the most common is eating or drinking bad water or bad meat, walking through swamps, tending to a field, or even gardening.

[Parasites must always be DM’d, especially if they are being used against another player.]

Common Symptoms:


 * Discolored portion of skin
 * Rash
 * Headache
 * Fever or flushing
 * Tiredness
 * Sweating
 * Weight Loss

Uncommon Symptoms:


 * Painful, severe rash
 * Discoloration in the skin
 * Hemophilia
 * Weakness
 * Dizziness
 * Nausea & Vomiting
 * Expelling blood

Rare/Deadly Symptoms:


 * Malnutrition
 * Severe Weakness & Exhaustion
 * Difficulty breathing
 * Organ dysfunction or even failure
 * Permanent organ damage

Poison as a Condition
Severity of the poisoning depends on many conditions and each treatment (as well as each roll DC garnered to the poisoning).

Mind you, poisoning includes things such as:


 * Eating Spoiled Food (Food Poisoning)
 * Eating Poisonous Animals or Plants (True Poisoning)
 * Envenomation, i.e. being bitten by venomous creatures or being assaulted with a poisoned weapon (Blood Poisoning)
 * Environmental Poisoning such as heavy metal poisoning, consumption of in-edible alchemical materials, or poisoning from gas/powders. This type of poisoning is common in miners, alchemists, and metal workers.  (Alchemical Poisoning, also known as Alchemist’s Fault.)

Below will be a handy dandy little chart system for the reader’s convenience.

Food Poisoning
This type of poisoning comes from eating spoiled or rotten food, as well as the overindulgence in alcohol or smokeables such as tobacco.

True Poisoning
This type of poisoning is often accidental, though, as assassins and those of us that are ill-willed have become a certain common place, there is a higher-than-is-comfortable chance that if you are poisoned in this way, it was completely intentional.

This type of poisoning often occurs after a subject ingests poisonous plant materials or animals/animal parts that result in sickness. This sickness can range anywhere from just a headache to vomiting blood. This is why it is always important to pick your poisons with a botanist in mind, so you know exactly what they do and how to avoid them.

Concocted poisons have the same DC as the average of their parts (i.e. if you have a poison made from hemlock and spider eyes it would be a mix of alchemical and true poisoning.)

Envenomation or Blood Poisoning
This is not to be confused with sepsis and bad blood, this is specifically on envenomation, or being envenomed, which is, to put it in a simpler phrase, being bitten by creatures such as snakes, spiders, or your friend’s happened-to-be-poisoned dagger. This is poison within the blood. It is one of the most difficult to treat, making it one of the more deadly types of poisoning.

Concocted poisons have the same DC as the average of their parts (i.e. if you have a poison made from hemlock and spider eyes it would be a mix of alchemical and true poisoning.)

Environmental Poisoning
Environmental Poisoning such as heavy metal poisoning, consumption of in-edible alchemical materials, or poisoning from gas/powders. This type of poisoning is common in miners, alchemists, and metal workers. (Alchemical Poisoning, also known as Alchemist’s Fault.)

Medicines (WIP)
This lists the recipes for certain medications, such as herbal teas, tinctures, salves, and such. Health is an exact science! (At least, that's what we like to say

Birch Bark Powder
 Description 

The powdered bark of a birch tree.

 How to Administer 

Take one teaspoon of powdered birch bark mixed with water daily.

 Uses 


 * Joint Pain
 * Kidney Stones & Bladder Stones
 * Other Kidney/Bladder conditions

 Warnings/Side Effect 

Do not take if you have an allergy to wild carrot, mugwort, celery and similar.

Birch bark can worsen high blood pressure.

Feverfew
 Description: 

The dried petals of the feverfew plant have done wonders for inflammation, fever, and swelling, which is why it’s a popular headache and fever cure.

 How to Administer: 

Eat a pinch of dried feverfew petals or brew it in a tea to remove headache, reduce inflammation, and quell a light fever.

 Uses: 


 * Headache
 * Light fever
 * Swelling/Inflammation

 Warnings/Side Effects: 

For more serious fevers and inflammation, this should be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as a cold compress or Myrrh!

Fish Skin Wrap
 Description: 

The skin of a fish, scales and all, can help treat burns and even speed up healing by keeping the wound moist.

 How to Administer: 

Cover the wound in the fish skin completely, change it out every 10 days.

 Uses: 


 * Help heal burns.
 * Help treat rash. Especially affective with honey.

 Warnings/Side Effects: 

Rotten fish skins may cause/worsen infections! Make sure that your fish skin wraps are clean and fresh!

Do not salt the wraps to preserve them, and do not reuse old wraps!

Honey
 Description 

Honey can be used to keep wounds clean and moist, which in turn allows them to heal faster. However, the honey cannot be diluted, like the kind we eat, if it is expected to work well.

 How to Administer 

Use like a simple salve, applying it over and around the wound.

It is best to use it before the wound is wrapped and after it is cleaned.

 Uses 


 * Allows wounds to heal somewhat faster, both infected and non-infected wounds.
 * Removed malodor, removing infection.
 * Help treat rash

 Warnings/Side Effect 

Cannot be used on infants or children, for in rare cases it can kill infants and start a fever in children.

Myrrh/Myra
 Description 

Myrrh is a natural gum or resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species, is a known antibiotic, and can even help reduce inflammation.

 How to Administer 

Myrrh should be used in small amounts as a wound salve, to prevent the area from becoming infected.

 Uses 


 * Antibiotic salve
 * Anti-inflammatory salve

 Warnings/Side Effect 

If too much is used, it can cause irritation, which will grow in severity if the Myrrh is not removed.

 Recipe/Ingredients: 

Simply combine Myrrh resin and a small amount of alcohol in order to turn it into a salve. One part liquid for every four parts Myrrh.

Mash and stir until equal consistency.

Opium, Poppy Milk, or Poppy Tears
 Description 

Opium can come in dried or liquid forms, though, the liquid form is what is commonly administered within hospitals. The powdered form is a type of tried latex that comes from the Opium Poppy. This powdered form can also be smoked through hookah pipes. It’s a common painkiller found everywhere, whether that be in hospitals, drug stores, homes, and alleyways.

It can also be combined with poison hemlock to make a painless euthanasia.

 How to Administer 

Topical applications, via sponge or cloth during surgery are a quick way to numb an area before making an incision.

Opium is commonly smoked, but can also be made into a drink. It is recommended that no more than one ounce of drink is given, and no more than three pinches is smoked within an hour’s time. If a higher dose is administered, it must be with doctor’s consent, and the patient must be put under an overdose watch.

As a euthanasia, it should be administered as a cup per every hundred pounds.

 Uses 


 * Painkiller
 * Sleep aid
 * Muscle relaxant
 * Asthma treatment
 * Diarrhea aid
 * Use in cough medicine
 * Use in anti-depressants

 Warnings/Side Effect 

An opium high often has users experience a euphoric rush, followed by relaxation and relief of pain. It commonly causes dry mouth and constipation, though it may also slow the breathing and cause dizziness. Overdoses may cause seizures, weakness, loss of consciousness, coma, and possibly death.

 Recipe/Ingredients 

Opium is harvested by collecting fluid that bleeds from incisions made into an unripe Opium Poppy seedpod. This poppy milk is then dried and compressed into cakes, or sold in small bottles. It can also be made from drying a mature plant, and then creating a concentrate. This dried plant is known as poppy straw. Beyond packaging, no more needs to be done.

 Notes 

It’s common names include Midnight Oil, Mira, or Dover’s Powder.

Potions, Poisons, and Other Alchemy (WIP)
Brewing and potions-- alchemy is a wonderful and dangerous thing. Boil some mushrooms, and other questionable ingredients, and see what incredible things come from it! Here are some alchemical recipes for your enjoyment. Do be careful not to lose any fingers.

Medicinal Alcohol/Eyralor
 Description: 

A high-proof alcohol created for use in salves, drinkable medicine, and tinctures.

 Uses: 


 * Antibacterial solution
 * Alcohol to use in the creation of salves, tinctures, and drinkable medicine.
 * Cleaning solution

 Brewing: 

Need:


 * 10 Potatoes
 * Glowstone
 * Timer
 * Cauldron full of water.
 * Brewingstand
 * 6 Bottles

Step 1 - Clean your equipment, fill the cauldron full of water.

Step 2 - Wait for the water in the cauldron to boil.

Step 3 - Place the ten potatoes within the boiling water of the cauldron. Set a timer for [ten ooc minutes.] Occasionally check the mixture to see if the potatoes have yet to turn to mash.

Step 4 - Once the potatoes have turned into potato mash and have fermented, collect it in the bottles for distilling.

Step 5 - Place the ‘filter’ (i.e. the one glowstone) at the top of the brewing stand. Place three empty bottles in the brewing stand.

Step 6 - Slowly pour the mash over the filter, pressing it into the stand to release the ‘purer’ fermented liquid from the potato mash.

Step 7 - Do this a total of three times, until the alcohol is purified.

Step 8 - Place it in new empty bottles for storage. Tag it and store.